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Originally Posted On: https://aptosscreening.com/employment-verification-how-to-ensure-you-hire-the-right-candidate/

 

As of January 2022, there were more than 11.3 million job openings spanning various positions in the country.

Employees are the lifeblood of any business and could make or break a business. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to find the right hires for vacant positions in your business.

However, doing so is easier said than done, especially when everyone looks super promising on their CVs. Thankfully, employee verification can help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

So, what is employment verification, and how can it help you choose the right candidate for a vacant position in your business? In this article, we’ll answer all these questions and more.

What Is Employee Verification?

Employment verification is the process of confirming that the employment history and credentials provided by a job candidate are accurate.

In other words, it’s a way to verify that the candidate actually worked where they say they did and that they have the qualifications they claim to have.

The company may get in touch with the candidate’s previous employers to confirm this information.

Some of the details that may be verified during employment verification include:

• The dates of employment
• The job title or position held
• The reason for leaving the company
• Eligibility for rehire

Employment verification is an important step in the hiring process, as it can help you avoid making a bad hire. After all, you wouldn’t want to hire someone with a checkered employment history or someone who isn’t qualified for the job.

Why Is Employee Verification So Important?

Employee verification isn’t mandatory, meaning employers can hire employees based on what they read on their CVs. However, this may work to the employers’ detriment.

There are many cases of employees lying on their resumes, and these lies can come back to bite employers later on.

For example, an employee may claim to have worked somewhere for longer than they actually did. Or say they have a degree from a certain school when they don’t.

Other common resume lies include embellishing job titles, faking references, and inflating salaries.

While some of these lies may seem harmless, they can actually cause a lot of problems for employers down the line. Lying on a resume is a form of fraud, and it can lead to legal trouble for employers.

If you’re wondering if employment verification is worth your time and resources, here are some reasons why you should do it:

Avoid Bad Hires

As any employer knows, hiring the wrong person can be a costly mistake. You have to go through the hassle and expense of finding a replacement and lose productivity while your new hire gets up to speed.

Employment verification can help you avoid bad hires in several ways.

First of all, it allows you to confirm that the candidate actually has the experience and skills that they claim to have. This is especially important for positions that require specific expertise or training.

Secondly, employment verification can reveal negative information about a candidate that you might not otherwise be aware of. For example, if an applicant has been fired from previous jobs, this is likely to show up on their employment verification report.

In other words, verification can give you valuable insights into a candidate’s character and work ethic. This information can help you avoid making a bad hire.

Helps Prevent Fraud and Identity Theft

Employment-related identity theft is a growing problem, and it can have serious consequences for employers.

In this type of identity theft, criminals use another person’s personal information to get a job. They may use the victim’s Social Security number to fill out their job application. They may even use the victim’s name and address when applying for a job online.

Once they’ve been hired, these criminals can start using the victim’s benefits, such as health insurance. They may even commit fraud or theft using the victim’s name and work information.

An employee background check can help you prevent this type of identity theft.

The first step in employment verification is to confirm the identity of the employee. This can be done by requiring employees to present a valid form of government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license.

Employment eligibility can then be confirmed by checking the employee’s Social Security Number against the Social Security Administration’s database.

Finally, employers can use E-Verify, an online tool operated by the Department of Homeland Security, to confirm that an employee is authorized to work in the United States.

Prevents or Reduces Workplace Theft

Employment-related theft is a serious problem in the United States. In fact, studies have shown that 75% of employees have stolen from their employers at some point in their careers.

There are many different types of workplace theft, but some of the most common include:

• Stealing office supplies or equipment
• Taking company money
• Falsifying expense reports
• Charging personal expenses to the company
• Using company property for personal gain

Employment verification can help prevent or reduce workplace theft in several ways.

First of all, it can help you identify candidates with a history of theft or fraud. Employment verification reports may contain information about an applicant’s criminal history, as well as any civil judgments against them.

In addition, it can help you confirm that an employee is who they say they are. This is important because many workplace thefts are committed by employees using false identities.

Improves Workplace Safety

Workplace safety is a major concern for employers, and rightfully so. According to the National Safety Council, there were 392 fatalities and 20,050 injuries due to workplace violence in the United States in 2020.

Employment verification can help improve workplace safety in several ways.

First of all, it can help you identify candidates with a history of violence or aggression. It can also help you ensure that your employees are properly trained and qualified for their positions.

For example, if an individual falsifies their qualifications on a résumé and is hired to operate heavy machinery, the individual may not have the necessary skills to safely operate the equipment. This could lead to a workplace accident.

Avoid Liability

Employers can be held liable for the actions of their employees. This is especially true if the employer knew or should have known about an employee’s history of misconduct.

For example, if an employee with a history of violence gets the job without a proper background check and then commits a workplace act of violence, liability may fall on the employer.

Similarly, if an employee is not properly trained and causes a workplace accident, liability may also fall on the employer.

Employment verification can help employers avoid liability by helping them screen out candidates with histories of misconduct and by ensuring that employees are properly qualified and trained for their positions.

Comply With The Law

There are many laws that require employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees.

The most well-known of these laws is the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires employers to verify that their employees are authorized to work in the United States.

Fair Credit Reporting Act: Requires employers to obtain a background check before hiring an employee.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their commercial drivers.

How to Ensure You Hire the Right Candidate

Now that you know the benefits of employment verification, you may be wondering how to ensure that you hire the right candidate.

Here are a few tips:

Use a Reputable Employment Verification Service

There are many employment verification services available, but not all of them are created equal. You’ll want to use a reputable service that has a good track record.

A credible service, like Aptos Screening, will have a database of applicants and employees that is regularly updated. They will also offer customer support in case you have any questions or problems.

They assist with the hiring paperwork and keeping up with the latest laws.

Verify All Applicants

It’s important to verify the employment history of all applicants, not just those who you think may be high risk.

You never know when an applicant with a clean record may have something to hide.

Make Sure You’re Verifying The Right Information

For the employment verification process to be effective, you need to make sure you’re verifying the right information.

This means verifying the applicant’s identity, employment eligibility, and employment history.

Follow Up With References

References help you verify an applicant’s employment history and job performance.

When you contact references, be sure to ask specific questions. These include the applicant’s job performance, work ethic, and ability to work well with others.

Use Other Screening Methods

Employment verification is just one part of the screening process. Other methods you can use to screen candidates include:

• Criminal background check
• Credit check
• Drug test

Use a combination of different employee screening methods to get a well-rounded view of each candidate. This will help you make the best hiring decision for your business.

Never Overlook Employment Verification

Now that you know everything you need to know about employee verification, the ball is now in your court. Ensure you have a comprehensive verification process, to get the best talent.

Better yet, you can outsource it to a reputable employee verification service. Overlooking employee verification and only trusting your guts will leave you with a subpar workforce.

Embrace employee verification and hire only the best. Contact us today for fast and comprehensive employment verification services.